Heat exchanger

Abstract

In order to prevent deformation of a side member due to thermal stress in a heat exchanger in which water for cooling a high-temperature body circulates, a side member is formed in the shape of a groove, the cross section of which has side wall parts and a base part along the entire length in the lengthwise direction of a main body part, and both ends of the side member in the lengthwise direction are provided with a stepped part, which is formed as a step toward the outside of a core, and one or more brace-like ribs, which integrally connect the tip end and the base part of the stepped part in a slanting manner.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger comprising: flat tubes and corrugated fins alternately arranged in parallel to constitute a core, wherein respective ends of each of the flat tubes are inserted into and fixed to respective tube plates, the heat exchanger further comprising two side members disposed on opposite sides of the core, wherein respective ends of the side members in a longitudinal direction of the side members are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates, and wherein:
 each of the side members is bent and formed into a groove shape, the cross section of which has opposing side wall parts and a base part, wherein the base part contacts corrugated fins adjacent to the base part, and wherein the groove shape extends along a length extending from the side wall of one of the tube plates to the side wall of an opposing of the tube plates; 
 the heat exchanger further comprising one or more ribs located on respective end portions of the side members in the longitudinal direction of the side members, wherein the one or more ribs are integrally and protrudingly formed at intermediate portions of the base parts in a widthwise direction and wherein the one or more ribs protrude in a direction away from the heat exchanger core, and wherein the base parts have substantially a same length as that of the core, and comprise stepped parts at the end portions of the side members, each stepped part having a tip end, wherein each of the stepped parts is formed into a stepped shape protruding toward an outside of the core, and the tip ends of the stepped parts are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates; and
 the one or more ribs are configured to connect the base parts of the side members and the tip ends of the stepped parts by extending at least from the base parts of the side members to the tip ends of the stepped parts, wherein the one or more ribs have slanting outer surfaces extending from the base parts to the tip ends of the stepped parts. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stepped parts of the side members include flat step surfaces, and wherein an outer surface of each of the tube plates is seated on a respective of the flat step surfaces; and 
 a tip end of each of the one or more ribs of the side members is configured to reach at least a position proximate the outer surface of a side wall of one of the tube plates. 
 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger comprising: flat tubes and corrugated fins alternately arranged in parallel to constitute a core, wherein respective ends of each of the flat tubes are inserted into and fixed to respective tube plates, the heat exchanger further comprising two side members disposed on opposite sides of the core, wherein respective ends of the side members in a longitudinal direction of the side members are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates, and wherein:
 each of the side members is bent and formed into a groove shape, the cross section of which has opposing side wall parts and a base part, wherein the base part contacts corrugated fins adjacent to the base part, and wherein the groove shape extends along a length extending from the side wall of one of the tube plates to the side wall of an opposing of the tube plates; 
 the heat exchanger further comprising one or more ribs located on respective end portions of the side members in the longitudinal direction of the side members, wherein the one or more ribs are integrally and protrudingly formed at intermediate portions of the base parts in a widthwise direction and wherein the one or more ribs protrude in a direction away from the heat exchanger core, and wherein the base parts have substantially a same length as that of the core, and comprise stepped parts at the end portions of the side members, each stepped part having a tip end, wherein each of the stepped parts is formed into a stepped shape protruding toward an outside of the core, and the tip ends of the stepped parts are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates; and
 the one or more ribs are configured to connect the base parts of the side members and the tip ends of the stepped parts by extending at least from the base parts of the side members to the tip ends of the stepped parts. 
 
 
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger comprising: flat tubes and corrugated fins alternately arranged in parallel to constitute a core, wherein respective ends of each of the flat tubes are inserted into and fixed to respective tube plates, the heat exchanger further comprising two side members disposed on opposite sides of the core, wherein respective ends of the side members in a longitudinal direction of the side members are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates, and wherein:
 each of the side members is bent and formed into a groove shape, the cross section of which has opposing side wall parts and a base part, wherein the base part contacts corrugated fins adjacent to the base part, and wherein the groove shape extends along a length extending from the side wall of one of the tube plates to the side wall of an opposing of the tube plates; 
 the heat exchanger further comprising one or more ribs located on respective end portions of the side members in the longitudinal direction of the side members, wherein the one or more ribs are integrally and protrudingly formed at intermediate portions of the base parts in a widthwise direction and wherein the one or more ribs protrude in a direction away from the heat exchanger core, and wherein the base parts have substantially a same length as that of the core, and comprise stepped parts at the end portions of the side members, each stepped part having a tip end, wherein each of the stepped parts is formed into a stepped shape protruding toward an outside of the core, and the tip ends of the stepped parts are integrally fixed to respective side walls of the tube plates; and 
 the stepped parts include side surfaces which face away from the core of the heat exchanger and the ribs are configured to connect the base parts of the side members to the side surfaces of the stepped parts by extending from the base parts to the tip ends and to the side surfaces, respectively. 
 
     
     
       5. The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more ribs extend over the tip ends and comprise stepped shapes protruding toward an outside of the core. 
     
     
       6. The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the side members comprises two of the ribs. 
     
     
       7. The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more ribs extend substantially across the side surfaces.